Post on 12-Apr-2017
CHURCHYARD RECORDING
ACROSS SUSSEX IN 2016AND FORWARD TO 2017
THANK-YOU AGAIN TO RECORDERS
• 75 churchyards/cemeteries recorded in East Sussex
• 81 churchyards/cemeteries in West Sussex
• A few churchyards need a further visit
• See list on table.Photo. H. Proctor
ANALYSES OF THE RECORDSAND RECORDING IN 2017
GrassesWall floraAncient Woodland IndicatorsUnimproved Grassland indicatorsSurvey form dataIs there a correlation with the indicator species?Best managementChanges in the flora since the 1980s Notes on Recording
GRASSES17 species - Battle Cemetery,
Newick Churchyard22 species – Milland< 5 species - may indicate tussocky,
coarse grasses only or shaved turf! “Poland” needed next time!
Beddingham Church, 8 species, large area never cut, also areas strimmed or mown regularly.
Photo. H. Proctor
Photo. Judy Clark
WALL FLORA
Asplenium ceterach at Fittleworth, Binstead and Plaistow. Five Asplenium species at Fittleworth !
Selaginella kraussiana, Ardingly and Salehurst
Photo.Roger Golding
Photo.James McCulloch
Many other species grow on walls, eg. at Litlington.
Photo.H.Proctor
Indicator species of Ancient Semi-natural Woodland
• List used includes :-• Anemone nemorosa• Conopodium majus• Epipactis helleborine• Luzula forsteri• Melica uniflora• Orchis mascula• Ranunculus auricomus• Sanicula europaea• et al – see list on table
Photo. H.Proctor
SCORINGSpecies given a score of 1 but Orchids = 3Hadlow Down scored 7Milland scored 12
Indicator species of Unimproved Grassland
• Scoring:-• 1= unimproved grassland• 2 = long period of
uninterrupted grassland management
• 3 = Orchid species• See list on table
Photo. H. Proctor
HIGHEST SCORING CHURCHYARDS/CEMETERIESEbernoe = 30 Coolhurst = 28 Staplefield = 28Spithurst = 24 Hadlow Down = 20
Survey Form dataShaved ! OR Abandoned !
Plants not allowed to flower and set seed
Photo. H. Proctor Photo. H. Proctor
Cuttings left in situ enrich the soil,Coarse, tussocky grassesSeeds cannot germinateBecomes species-poor.
A few statistics from 155 survey forms
Most of churchyard regularly mown short = 53 (34%)Part of churchyard/cemetery not cut regularly = 102 (66%)
Cuttings removed = 78 (50%) Cuttings not removed = 53 (34%) Not known = 24 (16%)
Photo. H. Proctor
Photo.H.Proctor
Is there a correlation between good management and the data?
YES, sometimes!BUT DOUBT re grass cuttings ‘apparently’ removed. If mulched back into the turf they soon disappear.
Facility for disposal of grass cuttings needed + manual work!
Photo H. Proctor
Photo.H.Proctor
Caring for God’s AcreAdvocates wildlife friendly management of churchyards and burial sites.
• Involve local people• Site plan• Record plants• Inform parishioners• Management plan• Annual activity
programme
http://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
Photo.H.Proctor
Changes in the flora since 1980s1980s Manual records 2016 Electronic records
Comparison raises queries! Eg. is it really possible to lose Ground Elder?Losses = 54 Gains = 46 Continuous = 88
All photos. Patricia Donovan
HADLOW DOWN
Notes on recordingPlease enter Location + churchyard or
cemeteryCorrect status - N, P, C, E.Notes on habitats and frequencies
in the Comments columnA central grid reference in the
Comments column below the last record.
Please avoid duplicates!
If uncertain of ID, do ask for help!
David Carstairs, 2004
Caring for the Co-ordinatorPlease add to thebeginning of the filename, before sending:-Location + Church or cemeteryAdd the full date at the
end.
EG. Upper Dicker_Holy Trinity Church_TQ50P_HMP_27_02_2017
David Carstairs, 2004
Please send after each visit
THANK-YOU AND ENJOY!
Whatever the weather!
David Carstairs, 2004
Cartoons from Marren and Carstairs, 2004. Twitching in the Swamp. Thatcham, Swamp Publishing.
Photo. H. Proctor